Exterior of the SHI building, which features formline design by master Haida artist Robert Davidson.
The Sealaska Heritage (SHI) Native Artist Committee in their recent meeting expressed deep concern about the deterioration of Northwest Coast (NWC) formline that they are seeing within our community of artists. The concerns relate to the lack of knowledge and command in composition, proportion, and balance between positive and negative spaces.
The Committee notes formline is the foundation of NWC art, and students must have an understanding and command of NWC formline to maintain the integrity and aesthetics of NWC art. NWC art is based on formline that is unique in the world and evolved over thousands of years.
Internationally acclaimed Master Artist Robert Davidson, commenting on the deterioration in NWC art, notes that many artists have command of the shapes, but lack the integrity of the Old Masters. He recommends that one way of gaining knowledge is to copy the Old Masters for 10,000 hours. He also has repeatedly offered that after students have drawn 10,000 ovoids they may have achieved command of the ovoid design. Davidson has written a number of essays that have been posted on SHI’s Facebook page that have proven to be extremely popular. He has offered that he will be writing a short essay on formline that will be posted on SHI’s Facebook. Davidson will also be a guest speaker at the Totem Pole Trail and Faces of Alaska Ceremony scheduled on April 22 on the Sealaska Heritage Plaza.
Members of the Native Artist Committee stated that they have taken multiple formline classes and each time they take one, they learn something new. They noted that all NWC art students, irrespective of the art or media that they are pursuing, must first take formline classes. To that effect, in upcoming SHI art classes, applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have taken formline classes or mentored with a master artist. SHI will be sponsoring a series of formline classes to ensure that all students have the opportunity to take these classes.
The Native Artist Committee offered a number of recommendations to improve SHI’s art programming. In response to the Artist Committee recommendations, SHI will be working on a project to develop a database of extraordinary Northwest Coast art pieces, many of which are located in museums. SHI will also re-vamp its master-apprentice program to prepare apprentices to work with master artists, and that will result in an Apprentice Certificate. It will also work to expand its art programming for youth, including in-school and after-school programs and student museum tours.
